Summary Value Systems Knowledge Bank - IBDP Environmental Systems and Societies
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Course
IBDP Environmental Systems and Societies
Institution
Abacus College, Oxford
A knowledge bank/ full topic summary of environmental value systems, suitable for anyone studying Environmental Systems and Societies at IB level. A complete folder of them is available.
IB ESS
What is an EVS? Historical influences on the environment Anthropocentrism
Ecocentrism
An EVS is a worldview or paradigm Significant historical influences on the An anthropocentric viewpoint argues that humans
An ecocentric viewpoint integrates social, spiritual and
that shapes the way an individual, or development of the environmental movement environmental dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and must sustainably manage the global system. This might
group of people, perceives and nature as central to humanity and emphasizes a less materialistic be through the use of taxes, environmental
have come from literature, the media, major regulation and legislation. Debate would be
evaluates environmental issues, environmental disasters, international approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies. An ecocentric
viewpoint prioritizes bio-rights, emphasizes the importance of encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic
influenced by cultural, religious, agreements and technological developments. approach to solving environmental problems.
education and encourages self-restraint in human behaviour.
economic and socio-political contexts.
Influences on an EVS Technocentrism
Major landmarks, An EVS might be considered as a Argues that technological developments can
James Lovelock’s development of the system in the sense that it may be provide solutions to environmental problems. This is a
Gaia hypothesis; influenced by education, experience, consequence of a largely optimistic view of the role
Minamata disaster; culture and media (inputs), and humans can play in improving the lot of humanity.
involves a set of interrelated .
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies
(1962);, premises, values and arguments that and to understand how systems can be controlled,
Davis Guggenheim’s documentary An can generate consistent decisions manipulated or changed to solve resource depletion. A
Inconvenient Truth (2006); and evaluations (outputs). pro-growth agenda is deemed necessary for society’s
Chernobyl disaster of 1986; improvement
Fukushima Daiihi nuclear disaster of
2011; Independent pressure groups Soft ecology: self-sufficiency in resource management. Ecological
Bhopal disaster of 1984; understand a principle for all aspect of living. Shun large scale profit
Gulf of Mexico oil spill of 2010;
Chipko movement;
NGOs
Use awareness campaigns to effect change e.g. Unit 1.1 – motives for action, for small-scale community orientated schemes.
Deep ecology: a need for spiritual revolution to fix environmental
Rio Earth Summit 2012 (Rio+20);
Earth Day;
Greenpeace on Arctic exploration, WWF – saving
tigers. Environmental problems is at the core of all environmental issues. Nature is at the
centre, equal rights for species. (nature before human)
Green Revolution;
Copenhagen Accord;
Friends of the Earth
They influence the public who then influence Govt
value
There systems
are extremes at either end of this spectrum (e.g., deep
E nvironmental managers: no radical political agenda but promote
working to create change within the existing social and political
&corporate business organisations. ecologists–ecocentric to cornucopian–technocentric), but in structures. Current economic growth can be sustained if environmental
whaling (Save the Whale), First Nation
practice, EVSs vary greatly depending on cultures and time issues are managed by legal means or political agreement. (believe that
Americans, aka American Indians or
periods, and they rarely fit simply or perfectly into any the environment can be used if manage properly)
Native Americans leading to
classification. Cornucopians: a perspective that doesn't really see environmental
environmental pressure groups, both
Corporate businesses issues as "problems" as humans have always found a way out of
local and global,
the concept of stewardship and Especially multinational Native American Environmental Worldview difficulties in the past. New resources and technologies will solve any
corporations – MNC and Tend to hold property in common, subsistence economy, barter for environmental problems as they are encountered. There is no need for
increased media coverage raising public radical agendas, socio-economic or political reform. (don't care for the
transitional corporations – TRC. goods rather than use money, use law-impacting technology;
awareness. They supply consumer demand environment; humans come first)
Politically – consensus by democracy.
and thus use resources & Laws handed down by oral tradition
create environmental impact Matrilineal society with extended families and low popn, densities
e.g. mining for minerals or Polytheistic &hold that plants & animals have a spirituality
burning fossil fuels Buddhism
Has evolved over 2,500 years to
Intergovernmental
Governments Germany - Communism & capitalism see the world conjoined in 4 ways:
bodies e.g. UN World views of Christianity and ISLAM
Make policy decisions including environmental Iron curtain &Berlin wall fell 1989 – Polluted Morally, existentially,
e.g. planning permission for land use & apply These 2 make up biggest proportion of religious followers cosmologically & ontologically
Highly influential in E.Germany e.g. Bhuna chemical works
Both have a belief in separation of spirit (soul) and body (nature of being)
recent times by legislation to manage e.g. emissions. dumping 10x more mercury into a local river
Both adhere to notion of ‘dominion’ or mastery over the Earth
They meet with other governments re. than W. Germany Buddhists believe all sentient
holding Earth Ancient Greek view citizenship and democracy, Judaic notion of covenant & the
international agreements e.g. UNEP Polluting Trabant cars emitting CO whereas beings share the conditions of
summits to bring Christian view of unconditional love are examples which perhaps have been
Different countries are at different stages of catalytic converters used in W. Germany birth, old age, suffering & death
together environmental awareness as are different
distorted by anthropocentric views of the West. Do stewards own or look after?
Message – Capitalism will clean up industry and all living things are co-
governments, NGOs individuals. but was a polluter itself. dependent.
& corporations to Quaran – Earth and its bounty given to humans for sustenance but is different to
Legisalation about emissions is important but so In some ways the paternalistic communist We are all dependent on each
consider global the Judeo-Christian view in that:
is ensuring sufficient food for the population. state had protected the interest of primary other, whatever species, we are
environmental and Humans not given dominion over the Earth but rather have been granted t as a gift
Different countries may put environmental producers e.g. farmers and fishermen & so
or inheritance – caretakers not autonomous and humans
world development awareness at different levels of priority, all are the environment.
Animal world is a community equal to humans cannot be more important.
issues aware of the issues facing Earth. All must be A law made smelters shut down & so not
More emphasis on trustee status of humans and states importance of charity (3rd Humans must extend loving-
involved pollute in Spring when crops grew.
pillar of Islam) kindness &compassion to life and
Ecofeminism:-argue that there is a rise in male-dominated societies since the the Earth.
advent of agriculture that has led to our view of nature as a foe & not nurturing
Earth mother
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